KAHR Medical Announces Clinical Trial Collaboration to Evaluate DSP107 in Combination With a PD-L1 Checkpoint Inhibitor in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients

JERUSALEM, Sept. 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- KAHR Medical, a biopharmaceutical company developing a novel drug platform based on bi-functional, immunotherapeutic fusion proteins known as DSP (Dual Signaling Proteins), announced today a new clinical collaboration with Roche. The collaboration will explore KAHR's lead program, DSP107, a SIRPα-41BBL DSP, in combination with Roche's PD-L1-blocking checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) atezolizumab (Tecentriq®) in patients with advanced NSCLC who are refractory to checkpoint inhibitors. KAHR expects to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food Drug Administration (FDA) and begin a Phase I/II trial in H1 2020 to evaluate DSP107 as a monotherapy and in combination with atezolizumab.

"We are extremely pleased to collaborate with Roche to study the potential of atezolizumab in combination with DSP107, our lead drug candidate," said Yaron Pereg, PhD, CEO, KAHR Medical. "The combined approach of DSP107 alongside immune-checkpoint inhibition has already shown promise in preclinical studies. We look forward to examining the potential of DSP107 with atezolizumab in treating NSCLC patients with limited treatment options."

DSP107 targets CD47-overexpressing tumors, simultaneously blocking macrophage inhibitory signals and delivering an immune costimulatory signal to tumor antigen-specific activated T-cells.  CD47 is overexpressed on many cancer cells and binds SIRPα on immune phagocytic cells to produce a "don't eat me" signal.  DSP107 binds CD47 on cancer cells, blocking interaction with SIRPα and thus blocking the "don't eat me signal".  Simultaneously, DSP107 binds 41BB on T-cells, stimulating their activation. These activities lead to targeted immune activation through both macrophage and T-cell mediated tumor destruction.  In combination with atezolizumab, DSP107 has the potential to enhance anti-tumor immune response. 

The planned Phase I/II study will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of DSP107 in advanced solid tumors. The preliminary efficacy of both DSP107 monotherapy and combination therapy with atezolizumab will be evaluated in patients with advanced NSCLC who are refractory to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. KAHR will be the sponsor of the study and Roche will provide the clinical supply of atezolizumab.

About KAHR Medical

KAHR Medical develops the next generation of immuno-oncology drug candidates for the treatment of multiple types of cancer. Its proprietary technology enables the construction of targeted biological drugs generated by fusion of the active extracellular domains of a TNF-SF ligand and DSP (Dual Signaling Proteins), a type-I membrane protein.  DSPs have two functional ends, which can simultaneously block and/or activate two reinforcing biological signals resulting in a synergistic outcome.  The unique DSP composition ensures target activation and increased potency by assembling a high multimer protein structure which is essential for activation of the TNF receptor family.  Investors in the Company include Flerie Invest AB, Oriella Limited a Consensus Business Group Limited subsidiary, HBL, Korean Investment Partners, Mirae Asset and DSC Investments. For more information, please visit https://kahr-medical.com/.

Tecentriq® is a registered trademark of Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Various statements in this release concerning future expectations constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include words such as "may," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," and "intends,"and describe opinions about future events. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these risks are: changes in relationships with collaborators; the impact of competitive products and technological changes; risks relating to the development of new products; and the ability to implement technological improvements. These and other factors are more fully discussed in the "Risk Factors" sections of recent annual reports filed by the parties to this release. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent the parties' views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing their views as of any subsequent date. The parties do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements unless required by law. 

Company contact:
Tsipi Haitovsky
Global Media Liaison
KAHR Medical 
+972-52-5989-892
[email protected]

SOURCE KAHR Medical

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